Wendell Petterson

Tuesday , March 18, 2014 - 3:53 PM

Contributed

Wendell K. Petterson celebrated his 95th birthday with his family on Oct. 17.

The youngest of four boys, he was born on Oct. 17, 1917, in Ogden to William N. and Bessie Severn Petterson. He grew up in the Ogden area, working on the family farm with his father, uncles and brothers: William N. Petterson Jr., Harlan D. Petterson and Parke S. Petterson. He graduated from Utah State University in 1940 with a major in animal husbandry and a minor in agronomy. He served during World War II in the U.S. Navy submarine service in the North Atlantic and South Pacific.

He married his longtime sweetheart, Joanne Smith, on Aug. 24, 1950, in Ogden. She died June 11, 2006.

In 1939, he began his career in farming and cattle ranching after purchasing his farm. While running his farm, he worked for the soil conservation service in Weber, Box Elder, Summit and Morgan counties from 1948 to his retirement in 1986. He also worked at the Weber Livestock Auction from 1986 to 2000. He continues to run his farm and cattle ranch in West Weber.

In 2009, he was honored at the West Weber sesquicentennial celebration for being a longtime resident of the community.

His three children and spouses are Charlotte and Randy Quinn, Ogden; Doug and Becky Petterson, Fuquay Varina, N.C.; and Lew and Lori Petterson, West Weber. He has eight grandchildren.